[12]
Sydney awoke with a groan the next morning. Someone was pounding heavily on the door. Sydney rolled over, Michael was still asleep. He could sleep through anything.
She groggily got out of bed and threw on her robe.
”Eric, you ass, we told you not to come by.” Sydney yelled at the closed door. She knew it was Eric coming by to torment them. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see not only her parents, but Michael’s too. ”What... what are you doing here?” Sydney gaped, crossing her arms over her chest self-consciously.
”You and Michael invited us over to lunch last week, remember?” Amelia smiled.
”Oh.. Yeah I completely forgot.” Sydney rubbed her face, trying to wake herself up. Sydney turned around to see Michael walking through the door. He was clad in his boxers and a shirt covering his head.
“Eric, I told you we’d be celebrating the baby and you came by anyways” Michael exclaimed, pulling the shirt over his head. He saw all four parents staring back at him. “Oh s***.” He muttered.
At the word ‘baby’ Laura and Amelia both broke out in grins and looked at each other, resisting the urge to squeal.
Sydney clamped her eyes shut, hoping this was all a bad, bad dream.
”Baby?” Jack asked, raising an eyebrow, hoping he had heard the word wrong.
”Daddy, I’m pregnant.” Sydney said softly. “I mean... I haven’t been to gone to the doctor. I took a test last night...” Sydney trailed off.
”How does Eric know?” Laura asked, hurt that her daughter told him before her.
”Well, he came by to use our bathroom, and he saw it...” Michael explained.
"Sydney, Michael, I thought you were being careful." Jack said, his voice rising. They both looked down embarrased. "I thought you were more responsible. Do you honestly think you two are ready to take care of a baby?" Jack shook his head.
"I do." Sydney whispered.
"What?" Jack demanded.
"I think we're ready to have a baby." Sydney said boldly, looking her dad in the eyes confidently.
"Okay then." Jack nodded. "Congratulations."
The next few minutes were full of hugs and ‘Congratulations’ from the other parents.
Laura and Amelia dragged Sydney down the hall, already planning which room they should use as the nursery.
”Sit down, Michael.” Bill said, motioning towards the couch. “I think the three of us should have a man-to-man-to-man.” Bill and Jack sat across from Michael.
Michael sat there, awkwardly, listening to his dad and almost father-in-law lecture him. “You’re going to be responsible for another life. That’s a lot of responsibility.” Jack said, Bill agreeing. “Everything will change. Are you ready for that? Because neither of us are going to let you hurt our grandchild.”
”I love Sydney, I’m happy about this.”
”I know that, son, but I don’t think you realize how different everything will be. You’re going to be some little kid’s daddy. He or she is going to trust you completely. You’re going to be their number one caregiver--”
”Wait, are you trying to say that it’s bad we’re having a baby, cause you’re a little late.”
”We just want you to be prepared.” Jack answered. “No more drinking nights with Eric. No more staying out late. You and Sydney can’t take off and go away for the weekend like you do now. It’ll be different.”
“I know, and I’m ready.” Michael said.
”We’re just making sure.” Bill sighed. “We’re just looking out for our little grandson.”
“Grand
son?” Michael laughed. “How are you so sure it’s a boy?”
”Bill, it’s going to be a girl.” Jack chuckled.
”You wanna bet.” Bill looked at Jack seriously.
”Sure, fifty bucks says it’s a girl.” Jack shook Bill’s hand to seal the deal.
”Wait, y’all are betting on my unborn child.” Michael looked at the older men and shook his head. “Do you think they’ve finished planning the nursery yet?” Michael laughed.
”Knowing Laura and Amelia, yes.” Bill snickered.
“We better go save Sydney” Jack added.
~*~
Sydney stood there, listening to her mother and soon-to-be-mother in law converse. They had decided that they should use Michael’s office as the nursery. It was closer to Sydney and Michael’s room.
She was trying to pay attention, but what Sydney really wanted was to go back to bed and sleep for another hour or two. It was her day off, she deserved to sleep in.
Syd nodded to whatever her mom just asked her.
Sydney felt a strong hand grab hers. “Are they giving you any say in this?” Michael whispered into her ear. She shook her head. “Are you even listening?” He asked. Sydney shook her head again. Michael chuckled, which caught his mother’s attention.
Before she could start explaining their plans to him, he intervened. “Mom, why don’t y’all go home and we can all meet somewhere for dinner, okay?”
Laura and Amelia agreed that it was a good idea and left the overwhelmed couple home alone.
“My dad took it better than expected.” Sydney commented, facing him, and wrapping her arms around his waist. “What did they say to you?”
”Nothing really.” Michael lied. “Well, they bet on whether it is a boy or a girl.” Sydney giggled. “I didn’t think it was that funny.” Michael laughed.
”So what does your dad think?” Sydney asked, looking up to meet his welcoming emerald eyes.
”He thinks he going to get a grandson, your dad seems to think it’s a girl. We’ll see.” Michael shrugged. “Do you want to find out which it is?” Michael asked. He would prefer to me surprised, but he would find out the sex of the baby if that’s what Sydney wanted.
”You do realize we can’t find out for another three or four months, right?” Sydney asked.
”I know, but I’m curious.”
Sydney thought for a minute. “I haven’t decided yet.”
”I want to be surprised.” Michael stated, kissing her forehead gently.
Sydney mumbled an ‘uh huh’ before kissing him gently. “I’m going to go take a shower.” Sydney declared. “Can you go make some sandwiches or something?”
”Sure” Michael agreed kissing her once more, before they each went their own way.
Are you sure? But I wanna know Jack and Laura's reaction to the baby! And are they gonna have a wedding still?